Tucson Electric Power helped the Reid Park Zoo complete the safe return of Mabu, a 13,000-pound elephant bull that had lived temporarily at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. TEP provided lighting to allow the zoo’s crane operator to place Mabu into his habitat earlier this week.

Zoo officials say Mabu’s introductions to the other elephants have gone well.

“In the wild, elephants live in a matriarchal society where the males often move in and out of herds for breeding and social opportunities,” says Sue Tygielski, the zoo’s Interim Zoo Administrator. “We are happy to be welcoming Mabu back to Tucson and are working closely with our colleagues from San Diego to ensure Mabu, as well as the rest of the herd at Reid Park Zoo, have a smooth transition.”

Mabu first came to Reid Park Zoo in 2012 to establish a herd of five elephants for what was then a new habitat, Expedition Tanzania. He successfully bred with Semba, one of the zoo’s adult females; a female calf, Nandi, was born two years later. Now, Expedition Tanzania and Nandi have become visitor favorites at the zoo.